Advance Directives

All adults in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and health care settings have the right to prepare a document called an "Advance Directive." Advance Directives provide people with the ability to state how they want medical decisions made if they lose the ability to make decisions for themselves.

You may wish to consider preparing an advance directive while you are well, if:

You want your physician or other health care provider to know the kind of medical care you want or don't want if you become incapacitated.
You want to relieve your family and friends of the responsibility for making decisions regarding life-prolonging actions.

It is most important to know the law in your state concerning advanced directives. New York law recognizes that adults have the right to accept or refuse medical treatment including life-sustaining treatment. New York has a "Health Care Proxy Law" that allows people to plan ahead and appoint someone they trust to make health care decisions for them if they become unable to decide for themselves. A copy of the health care proxy form can be obtained from your health care provider. Hospitals in New York must provide this health care proxy to all adult patients. View the End of Life National resource directory for more information. The Health Care Proxy Form can also be accessed by visiting http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/hospital/healthcareproxy/intro.htm

Other forms of advance directives that senior citizens should be aware of are:

DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) is an order that you or your health care proxy agent or family members as noted in the DNR law request of your treating physician if you are in a hospital or nursing home or even at home. This DNR is included in your medical record and a copy can be kept at home if a medical emergency should occur. Your physician, health care proxy agent, and family should know where the form is located and who your health care proxy agent is. DNR orders are written by the physicians treating the patient and refer to the patient's wishes to forgo the use of extraordinary means to restore heartbeat and breathing if cardiac or respiratory arrest occur. Discuss DNR with your treating physician, your health care proxy agent, and/or family members.
Living Will is a document that provides specific instructions about health care treatment. It describes your personal wishes to refuse life sustaining treatment and may include other specific preferences. Some individuals choose to have a living will and a health care proxy form. Again, appointing a health care proxy agent allows you to appoint someone you trust to interpret your wishes to caregivers and responds to changes in your health care needs.